How your grad school interview is evaluated

When it comes to interview preparation for grad school, many students find themselves searching for helpful tips and suggestions regarding aspects of the interview they can control – what to say, what to do and how to act to leave a lasting impression.

While focusing on what you can control is important, the reality is that the interview process is partially outside of your control – namely, what questions you’ll be asked, what the interviewers will be like and how they will evaluate prospective candidates. To help, we asked our former graduate admissions officers what they would suggest for achieving interview success.

For MS degree applicants:

Interviews typically take place via phone or Skype by admissions directors, faculty members or alumni of the respective program. Ranging in length from five to thirty minutes, the purpose of such an interview is to quickly gauge a candidate’s interest, enthusiasm and knowledge. For international students, the interviewer may also assess English language skills.

Questions to expect:

• What are your career goals – both short and long term?
• What do you think you will contribute to this program?
• Describe yourself (as it relates to the program of study).
• What is your leadership style?
• Why did you decide to apply to this program/university?

For Ph.D. applicants:

If you already have a master’s degree under your belt, be careful not to assume that the interview process for your Ph.D. application will follow a similar format. One important distinction is that faculty members are responsible for evaluating and admitting candidates. Faculty will want to get a better sense of how your research interests align with their own work and if your personality and character will make for a productive partnership in years to come. For students who advance past the initial interview, an on-campus meeting will typically follow.

Pitfalls to avoid:

• Not coming prepared with questions for the interviewer
• Not doing your homework about the program or person who is interviewing you
• Not showing a genuine interest in the program
• Not maintaining a level of focus and maturity during the interview
• Focusing solely on the school’s reputation/ranking